The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-31
How He Obtained It.
New York Sun.


 "A notice which | saw the other day that Messrs. Funk N Wagnalls are about publishing fac slmSte cdi- tion of Shakespeare, reminds me of how Edwin Forrest bought his 1928 copy of Shakespeare" said Philadcl- phia gentleman at the Hoffman House to San reporter. "I was connected with the auction house of Thomas < Sons in Philadelphia for a number of years, and Forrest used to come in the store a great iea; aisd patTontae the book store. He seldom did any bid ding himself, but used to tell Mir. Jen- nings of the firm, and a lifelong friend of the actor's, to buy certain books for him. He never left any limit to his bids, but always said, simply, sbuy them If the auctionecr thought a book was bringing much more than it's value, and in Mir, Forests inter ests let it go, the big actor would storm and rave the next time he came in, and declare that i,c would never buy another book In the place ii his orders were not carried out to the letter.
 "But what started to tell you was about the famous old 1923 edition of Shakespeare. You know there arc only few copies in tho world. and they are of great value, of course. Well, we had copy for sale one day and 1t was so we'll advertised, not only in this country but elsewhere, that agents from libraries in Englan and other countries crossed the ocean espe- cially to buy 1t. The day betore the sale Forrest walked into the store and said to MT. Jennings:
 al want that Shakespeare. Buy it.
 "How high will you go2' asked Mir. Jennings.
 allow high? I don't know and l don't care. Buy it. want it.
 "Then Forrest stalked out without another word. The next day when the big folio was put up for sale there was some lively bidding. The start ing price was one hundred dollars by an Englishman, and 1t was not long before II reached seven hundred.
 "'Seven hundred and fifty dollars ? at last shouted the Engllshman who had started the book at one hundred.
 "'And eight hundred have already. said the auctionecr with smile.
 "Who did you get the bid from2 don't see any one else bidding now said the Englishman.
 "sA gentleman left the bid with me
 "'Who was it2'
 "'Ned Forrest
 "'That settles it. said the bidder. If Forrest wants that book there is no use bidding against him. He'd give S50, ,000 for 1t rather than not get it. Pm through bidding
 "The auctioneer tried to get another bid, but without success, and at last the hammer fell and the Shakespeare belonged to Forrest. The actor was delighted the next day with his prize. He took 1t to his mansion on North Broad street and had glass case made for if. It was placed in this case open at the title page and no one was allowed to touch 1t. Forrest had \ fac stmiie copy which he read. He gave orders that If ever his house should get on fire the 1929 shakes peare was to be the first thing saved. He had magnificent Shakespearean library, but the big folio he consid- cred was worth more than all the rest put together. A curious thing hap pened after Forrest died. A defective flue caused little fire in his library, and about the only thing of value that was burned was that very 1923 edition that he prized 20 highly"